Past perfect continuous signal words. Past Perfect Continuous - Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Time Past Perfect Continuous causes many difficulties: some confuse it with other times, some do not understand when to use it, and some do not know how it is formed.

The tenses in this group (Perfect Continuous) are difficult and are usually taught at high levels of English.

But don't be scared!

I have prepared a very detailed article for you, where I will not only tell and show how this time is built, but also compare it with other times so that everything is clear to you.

From the article you will learn:

So, let's begin!

Rules for using tense Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous is translated as “past perfect continuous tense.”

We use it when we talk about actions/events that:

• happened in the past
• continued for some period of time
• completed by a certain time (another action) in the past or was still ongoing at that moment

Let's look at the schemes of such proposals.

1. The action ended at a certain moment (another action) in the past

That is, the action began sometime in the past, lasted for some time and ended at a certain moment also in the past.

Look at the picture:

Here we say that the action is:

• Happened in the past: yesterday, last week, etc.
• Took some time: I read the book for an hour.
• Finished at a certain point: when she came.

Let's look at another example:

She worked 5 hours before he arrived.

That is: yesterday (in the past) she started working, worked for some time and finished working by the time he arrived.

Now let's look at the second situation.

2. The action was still going on at a certain point in the past.

That is, an action began sometime in the past, lasted for some time, and was still going on at a certain point in the past.

Look at the picture:

We say that action:

• Ended in the past: yesterday, 2 days ago, etc.
• Took some time: I read for an hour
  
• Continued at a certain point in the past: when she arrived I was still reading the book

One more example:

When she arrived, we had already been playing for 3 hours.

We started playing in the past (yesterday, a week ago, etc.), played for 3 hours, and were still playing when she came.

To better understand this tense, let's compare it with other English tenses.

Difference between Past Perfect Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous is translated as “present perfect continuous tense.”

We use it when we talk about an action (process) that began sometime in the past and lasted for some time to date or lasts at present.

Let's look at an example of its use:

She has been cook ing for 2 hours.
She cooked for 2 hours.

We say that she started cooking in the past, cooked for 2 hours and to date prepared lunch.

Let's now look at the sentence in the Past Perfect Continuous:

She had been cook ing until 5.
She cooked until 5.

We say that yesterday/last week/last month she started cooking during the day, cooked for a while, and had dinner ready by 5pm.

The difference between Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous is that in the first case we are talking about the present tense (at the moment, to this moment), and in the second about past (yesterday, last week, last year).

Difference between Past Perfect Continuous and Past Continuous

Past Continuous Tense is translated as “past continuous tense.”

We use it when we want to emphasize the duration of an action that took place in the past.

For example:

They were work ing when she came.
They were working when she arrived.

We are talking about the fact that sometime in the past (yesterday, last week) they were in the process of working at the very moment when it came.

They had been work ing for 3 hours before she came.
They were working before she arrived.

We say that they started working in the past and had already worked for 3 hours before she arrived.

In the first sentence we emphasize that at some point in the past we were in the process of working, and in the second that we have been in this process for some time (3 hours).

Usually, if we do not have a time indication (3 hours, 8 days, etc.), we use the Past Continuous in such sentences.

Difference between Past Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect

Past Perfect is translated as “past completed tense.” It is used to say that an action in the past ended at or before some time in the past.

For example:

She had done her homework before he called.
She had done her homework before he called.

We say that by the time he called, she had a result - lessons learned.

Now let's look at the sentence in the Past Perfect Continuous.

She had been do ing her homework for an hour before he called.
She had been doing her homework for an hour before he called her.

That is, by the time he called her, she had already been in the process of doing her homework for an hour.

In the Past Perfect we talk about the result. We don't care how much time we spent on it. And, using the Past Perfect Continuous, we emphasize the duration of this action or say that we have been in the process for some time.

Let's look at a general comparison table of all times:

Now that we've figured out how to use the past completed continuous tense, let's look at how to construct sentences.

How to construct sentences in the Past Perfect Continuous in English

Past continuous perfect tense is formed using:

• Auxiliary verb had (have in past tense)
• The verb to be in the 3rd form - been
• Adding an -ing ending to a verb (the action itself)

In such sentences we must indicate that the action continued for some time. This is usually done using the following words:

• for two hours - for two hours
• for a month - during that month
• for some time - at some time
• since 5 o’clock - from 5 o’clock
• all his life - all his life
• all day long - all day
• until - until

The outline of such a proposal:

Actor + had + been + action with ending -ing+ point in time

I had been sleep ing for 3 hours.
I slept for 3 hours.

She had been walk ing until evening.
She walked until evening.

Reduction:

We can shorten had like this:

had = "d

Complex sentences in the past perfectContinuous

Complex sentences are made up of two simple sentences.

If we say that an action ended by the beginning of another action, then in the second part we use the Past Simple tense - past simple.

The two parts of the sentence are connected by the words:

• before - before
• when - when
• by the time - by that moment

The outline of such a proposal:

Actor + had + been + action ending -ing + point in time + before/when + actor+ action with ending -ed or 2nd form of irregular verb

He had been study ing for an hour when she called him.
He had been studying for an hour when she called.

We had been fix ing a car for 2 hours before he helped us.
We were fixing the car for 2 hours before he helped us.

Negative sentences in the Past Perfect Continuous in English

To make a sentence negative, we need to put the negative particle not after the auxiliary verb had.

The outline of such a proposal:

Actor + had + not + been + action with ending -ing + point in time

Reduction

We can shorten had and not like this:

had + not = hadn't

They had not been work ing until 6 o'clock.
They didn't work until 6 o'clock.

She had not been writ ing before she was told to.
She didn't write until she was told.

Note: Most often in complex negative sentences we use the Past Perfect instead of the Past Perfect Continuous, since we do not always need to emphasize that something has not happened for some time. We usually say this as a fact.

Past Perfect:

We had"t worked when they came.
We weren't working when they arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous:

We had"t worked for 4 hours when they came.
We had not been working for 4 hours when they arrived.

Interrogative sentences in the Past Perfect Continuous

To ask a question, we need to put had first in the sentence.

The outline of such a proposal would be:

Had + actor + been + action ending -ing + point in time

Had you been study ing English for a long time before you took lessons?
Have you already studied English for some time before taking the course?

Had she been teach ing for 5 years before she found a new job?
She taught for 5 years before she found a new job?

So, we've covered the theory, now let's move on to practice.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. She had been reading a book for 2 hours when he arrived.
2. They watched the film until 8 o'clock.
3. Did they play for an hour before they ate?
4. She didn't cook dinner until 7 pm.
5. She drove the car for 2 years before she sold it.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense (past perfect continuous tense) is another “scary” tense form for Russian-speaking people who are just starting to get acquainted with grammar in English. If you are already familiar with at times Continuous and Perfect, then most likely you can already imagine what this temporary form is formed from and what functions it performs. You probably already guess that Past Perfect Continuous Tense has a lot in common, both in construction and in use, with Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense expresses a long-term action that began before a certain moment in the past and continued up to this moment (it could continue during this moment or end immediately before this moment).

To Russian Past language Perfect Continuous Tense is translated by verbs imperfect form in the past time.

This tense is very rarely used both verbally and in writing. But this does not mean that they can be neglected!

Rules for the formation of Past Perfect Continuous

Affirmative sentences are formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the Past Perfect Tense (had been) and the present participle of the main verb (Present Participle → infinitive of the verb + ending -ing).

Mean + had been + Present Participate …

IN interrogative sentences the first auxiliary verb (had) is placed first before the subject, and the rest of the tense remains unchanged after the subject.

Had + Mean + been + Present Participe ???

To form negative sentences, the particle not is used, which is placed after the first auxiliary verb (had).

Mean + had + not + been + Present Participe …

In English it is customary to use abbreviated forms. For example:

• I had → I'd
• he had → he’d
• had not → hadn’t [ˈhædənt]

As you already understood, for all persons there is only one and plural The Past Perfect Continuous Tense verb will look the same.

Conjugation table for the verb to translate in Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used:

1. If you need to express a continuous past action that began before another action in the past, expressed in Past Indefinite Tense, and which was still ongoing at the time of the last one. As a rule, it is necessary to indicate the period of time during which the action lasted. This period can be indicated in such detailed words as:

• for three days (hours, months) - within three days (hours, months)
• for some time (a long time) - for some time (over a long time)
• since he came - since he came
• since 5 o’clock - from 5 o’clock
• all my life (day long, this year) - all my life (all day, all this year)

When translated into Russian, the verb will have an imperfect past tense form. Examples:

• We had been reading the new magazine for two hours when my telephone rang up and our friends invited us for a walk - We were reading the new magazine for two hours when my phone rang and our friends invited us for a walk
• We had been working on this problem since 1991 until we received positive results - We have been working on this problem since 1991 until we received a positive result
• I had been working in the orchard for four hours when my brother came to help me - I worked in orchard within four hours when my brother came to help me

If there is no indication of how long the action took, then Past Continuous Tense should be used. Example:

• She was singing when the door-bell rang - She sang when the doorbell rang

2. If you need to express a continuous past action that ended immediately before a certain moment or an action in the past tense. This moment in the past tense is usually determined by the situation. Past Perfect Continuous Tense emphasizes the duration of the previous action and its results at the moment being described. The period of time during which the action took place may not be specified. Examples:

• My hands were dirty as I had been peeling potatoes - My hands were dirty as I peeled the potatoes
• I had a headache as I had been watching TV - I had a headache because I was watching TV
• He put aside the book which he had been reading - He put aside the book he was reading

Mastering the Past Perfect Continuous Tense is not as difficult as you might think at first. It is used only in two cases, which will not be difficult for you to remember. The main thing is to practice as much as possible.

Watch the following video lessons on the topic: “Past Perfect Continuous Tense - past perfect continuous tense in English.”

Why are English verb tenses difficult to learn? Because many people want to cover everything at once, downloading a picture from the Internet with a tense system and the shortest explanation of their use. But it doesn’t happen that at first glance in 5 minutes you can comprehend the grammatical categories of a language that have been developed over the years. Therefore, each type should be analyzed separately and in detail. Today we will consider the meaning and laws of formation of the past continuous tense, using examples of the past perfect continuous to reinforce it. The material is quite voluminous, but it allows you to put everything literally on the shelves.

In everyday life, there are often situations when an action is performed for some time, and in parallel with it another event occurs, and as a result, these two actions are adjacent. It is to describe such coincidences that the English use the perfect continuus construction. Today we will talk about the process of performing an action and the events adjacent to it, in the past tense.

There are only two common cases in English that clearly require the placement of one part of a sentence in the past perfect continuous.

Neighborhood Action

The first action is in the process of being completed, a second event is added, which in essence is already completed, while the first is still ongoing.

The explanation sounds a little confusing, but in practice the phrases look very simple:

• I had been knitting a sweater for 20 minutes when the cat jumped on the table. – I had been knitting a sweater for 20 minutes when the cat jumped on the table.

While knitting a sweater, the cat jumped onto the table. The two actions are parallel, but the cat's jump has already been completed, and the knitting of the sweater continues. It is important to note that time interval indicators are necessarily used in such constructions:

• He had been growing these flowers since he built the farm. “He has been growing these flowers since he built the farm;
• The children told that they had already been painting the picture for 5 days - The children said that they had been painting this picture for 5 days.

In these cases, the events that occurred did not stop the process, but showed from what moment these actions began, or how long they lasted. But there are also constructions in this category indicating the completion of the action.

Result of action

Sometimes in speech there are examples of sentences using the past perfect continuous to express recently completed actions. This construction is used to emphasize the influence of the events that occurred on subsequent actions:

• My eyes ached as I had been reading the book for a long time - My eyes hurt because I read the book for a long time
• Her hands were dirty as she had been peeling beets - Her hands were dirty as she peeled the beets.

Ways to form sentences

To create an expression with the past perfect continuous tense, you must use the auxiliary construction had been and the participle I. The second part of the sentence, i.e. The completed action is usually placed in Past Simple.

Process Completed Action

This scheme is suitable for situations where the use of the construction is associated with the first case - the proximity of actions. If the emphasis is on the result, then the parts used complex sentence can change places.

Result Completed process

Interrogative sentences in this tense are formed in the same way as in others: by bringing the predicate forward and using special questions. For negation, the particle not is added to had.

These are the main theoretical points, but any grammatical constructions cannot be mastered without practice. The examples presented in the table will help you better study the past perfect continuous.

Please note that when translating ongoing actions, we always use imperfective verbs. If we're talking about about completed events, then the use of the perfect form is allowed.

Past perfect continuous examples - summary table

To understand and remember the material, any theory must be supported by practice, i.e. doing exercises. But before starting the tasks, we recommend once again repeating the meaning and methods of using the past perfect continuous, examples of sentences of which are presented below. Let us recall how this construction is used in the expressions various types, and we’ll create a useful cheat sheet that will be useful for doing the exercises.

* Such questions may contain any special question words. The purpose of the table is to show the principle of their construction.

The English language, of course, is a rather curious thing, because for all occasions it has its own special tense form. We need facts about the past - we calmly take Simple, the result - we turn to Perfect for help, we want to focus on the process - Continuous will help here. Well, if this is not enough, and it is very necessary to emphasize that the action in the past not only lasted, but also had its own time interval, then we will work with the Past Perfect Continuous. Let's talk about it!

What is Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous, which is sometimes called the past complete continuous tense, is used in cases where we mean an action that lasted for a certain period of time in the past.

Cases of using Past Perfect Continuous

Differences between Past Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect and Past Continuous

Nota bene: As you may have noticed, the topic of past tenses in the English language is quite peculiar. And to sort out all the grammatical nuances, be sure to pay attention to the free online simulators.

Some tenses in English are not used as often as their “comrades”. Usually their use is limited to certain situations, in which sometimes such tenses can even be replaced by other, simpler ones. The list of such times includes times group Perfect Continuous. Perhaps this is one of the least common groups, knowledge of which is still necessary for natural sound and demonstration high level language knowledge. That is why let's look at one of the times of this group, namely the time Past Perfect Continuous(pronounced [past perfect continuus]).

Past Perfect Continuous Tense (also Past Perfect Progressive Tense) or past perfect continuous tense is an English tense used to express actions that lasted up to a certain moment in the past and either ended before that moment or continued during it.

In simple words, the Past Perfect Continuous is used to show that an action occurred in the past, and another action lasted before it. Let's study the rules of formation, forms and uses of this tense.

The Past Perfect Continuous is formed using auxiliary and main verbs. The auxiliary is expressed by the verb to be in (had been). This auxiliary verb does not change in persons or numbers, always remaining unchanged:

Main verbs are formed using the present participle (Participle I). To form it, you need to add the ending –ing to the verb in the infinitive.

Note that:

1. When adding an ending to a verb ending in –e, –e is omitted:

1. If a word ends in –ie, this ending is replaced with –y:

The rule does not work with endings –w and –x:

2) In American, if the last syllable is stressed:

Accordingly, by connecting both parts, we get the necessary construction for the formation of the Past Perfect Continuous:

Past Perfect Continuous: sentence forms

Once you understand how to form verbs, you need to understand how they can be used in different sentences. Having become familiar with one tense of this group: Past or Perfect Continuous, Present or Future, you can easily form sentence forms for the other two tenses, because they are built on the same principle.

Affirmative form Past Perfect Continuous

The affirmative form of the Past Perfect Continuous is formed in a standard way: first comes the subject, followed by the auxiliary and main verbs as the predicate, and then the secondary members of the sentence:

The example above, like all subsequent ones, is used in the active voice (Active Voice). Perfect Continuous Passive or passive voice for Perfect Continuous tenses is usually not used. The point is that such proposals Passive Voice will sound very “cluttered” and strange, and since the language tends to simplify, you won’t have to use any “had been being doing” in the “passive”.

Negative Past Perfect Continuous

In negative sentences, the negative particle not appears between the parts of the auxiliary verb, but the overall structure remains the same:

Since pronouncing three verbs at once is not entirely convenient, abbreviations are used in speech for both the affirmative and negative forms:

Question past perfect continuous form

The formation of the interrogative form remains unchanged for almost all types of questions:

• In a general question, the auxiliary verb had comes to the fore:

• In an alternative question, any second member of the sentence for choice and the conjunction or (or) are added to the form above:

• In a special question, the form of a general question is diluted with interrogative words that are placed before the auxiliary verb had:

• Only the dividing question is different from the others. It retains the form of the affirmative or negative sentence followed by a short question:

Past Perfect Continuous: use

All that remains is to figure out in what cases the Past Perfect Continuous is used in English . Here it is worth paying attention to one funny paradox that the English language has: the fact is that the more complex a topic in English is considered, the easier it is. This happens because difficult times are usually limited specific situations. Accordingly, there are very few cases of use of such tenses, which means that remembering these cases will not be difficult. Here, in fact, they are:

1. The Past Perfect Continuous is used to express actions that lasted up to a certain point in the past. When the moment arrived, the action ended. Often in such cases no marker words are used , and the need to use this time is determined by the context:

Although sometimes the before (before), after (after), till / until (before) pointers are still present:

1. Tense is also used to show that an action lasted and continued to last at a certain point in the past. In such cases, sentences may contain indicator words: all day long / my life (all day / all my life), since (since), when (when), as well as time markers by the time (by that time ) and for (during):

If the sentences in this case are not used with words indicating how long the action took place, the Past Continuous is used instead of the Past Perfect Continuous:

1. It is worth noting that the action in the Past Perfect Continuous can take place during a certain period, but not on an ongoing basis:

1. The past continuous tense is also used to express an action, the result of which was seen later in the past. The indicators of time here are precisely the results of the action:

1. It is worth noting that this tense is often replaced by the Past Perfect, especially in negative sentences:

1. In addition, the rules indicate that the Present Perfect Continuous cannot be used with state verbs, since they cannot last. This group includes words indicating emotions, desires, possession, perception and mental activity. When using them, the Past Perfect is always used, even if the Past Perfect Continuous is implied:

In order to fully use the English language, you need to be “friendly” with all tenses, even such rare ones as the Past Perfect Continuous or the Past Perfect Continuous. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the rules of education of this time. To understand whether it is worth using it, it is enough to use words that indicate that the action is taking place exactly at this time. If initially you confuse this tense with the Past Perfect tense, periodically return to the rules and create examples to reinforce this material.